MR2 Roadster Owners Club

The Workshop => Maintenance, Problems & Troubleshooting => Topic started by: Newbie57 on February 26, 2024, 18:38

Title: Steering rack
Post by: Newbie57 on February 26, 2024, 18:38
My rack has dumped its fluid by the looks of it. Probably the pipes. Is there a how to on changing them out? E bay replacements look fairly cheap.
Title: Re: Steering rack
Post by: jvanzyl on February 27, 2024, 07:31
No idea if there is a how to, but I have the manual so I can retype the process for.

I have to do this myself at someone anyway.
Title: Re: Steering rack
Post by: J88TEO on February 27, 2024, 08:44
Very easy process.
Just be careful not to crossthread the feeds.
Title: Re: Steering rack
Post by: Newbie57 on February 27, 2024, 11:24
Quote from: jvanzyl on February 27, 2024, 07:31No idea if there is a how to, but I have the manual so I can retype the process for.

I have to do this myself at someone anyway.
Thanks that would be great
Title: Re: Steering rack
Post by: Carolyn on February 27, 2024, 11:38
Quote from: Newbie57 on February 26, 2024, 18:38My rack has dumped its fluid by the looks of it. Probably the pipes. Is there a how to on changing them out? E bay replacements look fairly cheap.

I've had search through the How-Tos and steering pipes isn't in there, which is a surprise, as I thought it would be.

Perhaps you could write one as you do the job?  It would be greatly appreciated. :)
Title: Re: Steering rack
Post by: Newbie57 on February 28, 2024, 20:52
Any idea on the torque settings for the connections
I did a fluid change a while ago with ravenol. As the system will be virtually dry once the pipes are changed I'm not sure what the bleed procedure would be. Doesn't seem much pointless in flushing into a jar.
Title: Re: Steering rack
Post by: Carolyn on February 29, 2024, 08:54
Quote from: Newbie57 on February 28, 2024, 20:52Any idea on the torque settings for the connections
I did a fluid change a while ago with ravenol. As the system will be virtually dry once the pipes are changed I'm not sure what the bleed procedure would be. Doesn't seem much pointless in flushing into a jar.

just do it by feel.  Good and snug.  check for leaks if any joint drips, nip it up.

Get the front wheels off the ground. Disconnect the rubber return hose from the pump reservoir. Put the end of the hose into a plastic bottle and turn the steering wheel from full lock to full lock several times. That will get all the old fluid out of the steering rack.

Reconnect the hose and add new fluid (making sure it is a proper Electric Power Steering fluid that is compatible with the steering system. Ravenol E-PSF is good). Fill the reservoir to halfway, switch the car on and turn the steering wheel from lock to lock, keeping an eye on the fluid level. Allow the level to drop but don't let it get quite to the bottom. Top up to the lower fill line and keep turning the steering wheel.  Repeat the process until the fluid level is constant.
Title: Re: Steering rack
Post by: jvanzyl on February 29, 2024, 09:32
Hey sorry for delay..
been reading through the manual and the torque settings are VERY low. So as Carolyn says they need to be done up as you would tighten a tap to close off the water.
The o rings will need to be replaced but new power steering pipes should come with turn on.(Manual says to coat them with power steering fluid).

Going from the pump you have two lines, one is a rubber pipe the other is a metal pipe. This metal pipe is supposed to be done up at 43Nm.

On the other end (basically the two metal pipes held together by the clamp) these are to be done up at 22.5Nm.

Access might be an issue so probably practicing on another nut and bolt setup with a torque wrench and holding it at the length to which access would allow you for a spanner etc in the frunk so you can get a good feel for what it should feel like in terms of tightness might help.

From what I can tell the manual is specifically stating you should use a torque wrench with 345mm length.. probably because access is a problem.

Title: Re: Steering rack
Post by: Newbie57 on February 29, 2024, 17:22
Thanks for all the info.
Title: Re: Steering rack
Post by: Newbie57 on March 6, 2024, 20:13
Progress so far.
Took all the plastics out of the frank.
Undo bracket on the rack.
Undo right hand (looking from the front) tube connection on the rack. This was relatively easy.
Undo left hand connection. Not much space to do this. I found the nut really reluctant to come off but got there in the end.
Undo the connection at the reservoir and pull off the return tube.
Take out the tube assembly and place the new one in.
That's as far as I have got. The nuts at the steering rack end are proving very difficult  to get the threads to engage. I cut off one of the old ones just to check there was no issues with the thread that was ok so it's just fighting  with the alingment
Title: Re: Steering rack
Post by: Joesson on March 6, 2024, 22:05
Quote from: Newbie57 on March  6, 2024, 20:13Progress so far.
Took all the plastics out of the frank.
Undo bracket on the rack.
Undo right hand (looking from the front) tube connection on the rack. This was relatively easy.
Undo left hand connection. Not much space to do this. I found the nut really reluctant to come off but got there in the end.
Undo the connection at the reservoir and pull off the return tube.
Take out the tube assembly and place the new one in.
That's as far as I have got. The nuts at the steering rack end are proving very difficult  to get the threads to engage. I cut off one of the old ones just to check there was no issues with the thread that was ok so it's just fighting  with the alingment

In such a case I would back off the end you have completed so that that end is just engaged and hopefully allow the troublesome end a little more wiggle room. I would not use a spanner until you have the threads well engaged at each end.
Title: Re: Steering rack
Post by: J88TEO on March 7, 2024, 09:51
New pipes come with the clamp midway - loosen that clamp or take it off completely. Easy to maneuver the connecting pipe and nut so you can finger tighten it.
Title: Re: Steering rack
Post by: Newbie57 on March 7, 2024, 18:33
All done ;D
Title: Re: Steering rack
Post by: jvanzyl on March 7, 2024, 22:05
Quote from: Newbie57 on March  7, 2024, 18:33All done ;D

Well done!